Bulgaria, is a country in the southeast of Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia
and Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north along the river Danube.

In the late 7th century a branch of the Bulgars led by Khan
Asparuh migrated into the northern Balkans, where they merged
with the local Slavic population and possibly remnants of
the Thracian population to form the first Bulgarian state in 681
AD. This was the first Slavic nation-state in history.

A distinctive feature of Balkan folk music is the
asymmetrical meters, built up around various combinations of 'quick' and
'slow' beats. Many of the men's dances are formed by each
man holding the belt or sash of the man on either side. These belts
are typically fit loosely around the waist so that each
person can move easily within the belt, while the overall line can
stay together. Although there are basic steps that make up
the dance, certain people may improvise variations, often forming
a competition between the dancers. These variations must
result in the same movement as the rest of the line, but may consist
of additional or slightly different steps.

Let’s get up and join the dance Kalinke.
Despite those who are
opposed to our being close.
Both on your side and my side.
Both on your side and my side.

Hey young lad, young and wild.
How to dance near you when
my mother is watching from over there.
How to dance near you when
my mother is watching from over there.

Let your mother watch if she wants.
Mother to you, perhaps my future mother-in-law.
So let’s get up and dance near each other, despite the circumstances.
So let’s get up and dance near each other, despite the circumstances.

Hey young lad, young and wild.
How to dance near you when my father is also watching from over there.
How to dance near you when my father is also watching from over there.

Let your father watch if he wants.
Father to you, perhaps my future
father-in-law.
So let’s get up and dance near each other, despite the circumstances.
So let’s get up and dance near each other, despite the circumstances